Patea & Waverley Press WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1920 LABOUR'S REAL ENEMIES

Patea Mail, Volume XLIV, 24 November 1920, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1920 LABOUR'S REAL ENEMIES

T. eyes of the civilised world are at present lurned on Russia, where the Bolsheviks now hold supreme sway. Willi General Wrangcl's forces out of the way, •and a free hand, the efforts of the Russian ►Socialists will doublless he concentrated on some movement that will have for its object the downfall of Britain, if it can be brought about. It is consequently the duty of all loyal and patriotic British subjects to do all that lies in their power to frustrate the designs of the revolutionary Socialist party. From now onwards there should be but two political parties in any portion of Ihe Umpire—the revolutionary Socialists and those opposed to them. What the 'Russian Socialists, who claim to be the leaders of the revolutionary Socialist Party throughout the world, aim at is shown in the opening address of Lenin, the Soviet Premier, at the Third International Congress held in Moscow in July last. After welcoming the delegates ho declared lint the Third International aimed to consolidate and organise worldwide revolution. Contributing to that end, though unconsciously, were two great factors the world's economic crisis and ihe dissensions in the. League of Nations, and its inability to protect the small nalions. Lenin also pointed out that even in those countries where conditions were most favourable, such as Kngland, Japan, and Ihe l T niled Slates of America, the cost of living had risen out of all proportion to the advance in wages, that consequently the masses were poorer, only an infinitesimal portion of the people having derived any benefit. therefore the 1 lino was ripe for bringing about a revolution in each of lliese countries. The Congress, at Ihe conclusion of Lenin's address, passed a series of resolutions, one of them approving of an appeal to the people of India., Syria. Turkey and Arabia to rise against the Allies and America, and "throw off Ihe yoke which the Allies are trying to impose on I hem." Xow that the Bolsheviki are 1 riumph-in*', we may expect to see an attempt made '•) cany the resolution we 'nave quoted into effect, and at 'h:- sain-: lime a deliberate and deiermined effort to spread dissatisfaction elsewhere. In the midst of this mad lust for revolution and for Ihe abolition of all law and order, it is comforting find that as recently as June last the Prifish Labour Party by a "card" vote of LVJ4O.OOO votes to 225,000 decided against affiliation with the .Moscow International. The Social Democrats of Pelrogiad also made an interesting declaration, and circulated it privalely among Ihe delegates to Ihe Moscow Congress, much to the annoyance of Lenin and his

following. The declaration stated: "Russia is drenched in blood. The Communist Government has destroyed all social and industrial life, trampled personality into the dust, and has already annihilated the best intellectual power of the land. To foreign nations Ihe Bolshevilri pretend to be representatives of Ihc workers and peasants, but they trick the masses fit the people, and give promises only to keep themscives in power. Only through shameless methods of violence do they remain in control, and Q\cry day their real ha lied against the labouring men becomes move appcrcnt. Through many imprisonments our Social Democratic organisation is being destroyed, and the met hods are like those of the Czar. We, the workers., representing fourteen factories of. Pctrograd, and the Social Democrats of Pctrograd, protest loudly against (his challenge to the Avholc of the "working class in Russia. We have nothing in common with this Government of violence and murder, and we pledge ourselves to use every means that this report should reach across our frontier to comrades in other countries." We commend this declaration to the Social Democrats of Ibis country, and trust they will bear it in mind should any effort be made 1o start an industrial government in the Dominion. It is certainly an illuminating document, and furnishes an admirable answer to any emissary of Lenin who may be touring Australasia in the near future, and whose .leaders cannot be regarded as being anything but Ihe real enemies of the genuine Labour Party.